Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story has filled our nights with paranormal activities. From a house haunted by the corrupt spirits of its victims to a coven of witches seeking to become supreme, fans can’t get enough of its ingenuity. But if you’re an anime fan, you’re in luck — there are countless shows and movies like the American anthology series. So here are five anime to watch if you like American Horror Story.
Midori (Mr. Arashi’s Amazing Freak Show)
Starting off our list is Midori, one of the most disturbing movies in anime history. The film centers around a young girl named Midori who, after selling paper flowers to go on a school trip, finds her ailing mother dead. With no one to help her, she turns to a circus run by the creepy Mr. Arashi.
The circus’ acts include snake women, people getting eaten by ants, and performers twisting and turning into impossible shapes. But instead living a joyous life with the circus people, she’s assaulted and forced to perform horrifying acts on stage, like biting a chicken’s eye out. Thankfully, things start to look up for Midori when the magician, Masamitsu “The Bottled Wonder,” brings her under his wing. Is Midori’s luck about to change? Or are things too good to be true?
From bizarre acts that would make you sick to your stomach to humorous scenes, Midori is an ero-guro (erotic grotesque) film that American Horror Story fans will love.
Kagewani
One way to boost website traffic is to post about things that people are naturally curious about, like cryptid sightings. And that’s the plan that a video blogger concocts. But things become too real when an actual monster kills his entire crew.
Elsewhere, on a school campus, a sandworm creature is hunting down a group of students, killing them one by one. And more of these attacks take place all over the country.
Sousuke Banba, a researcher with a profound interest in unidentified mysterious animals, explores these events. Soon enough, he gets a break with the word “Kagewani.” The mysterious word leads him to find various connections between a pharmaceutical company and the strange animal attacks.
Did you love the suspense of Asylum or Roanoke? Then don’t waste any time and watch Kagewani. Its picturesque style of animation and use of dark colors brings the creepy factor of American Horror Story. Since it’s shorter than the standard length, it quickly gets to the point with several jump scares and other freaky surprises.
Devilman: Crybaby
There are a lot of things that go bump in the night, including creatures of the netherworld, who feast on the living. The only way to defeat these monsters is to use their own power against them. Akira Fudo, a sensitive and caring young man, gets dragged by his best friend, Ryo Asuka, to fight these creatures, thus becoming a Devilman.
This brings him to the seedy underworld of demons where only bloodshed and death exists. Even so, Akira’s new abilities awaken an insatiable and primal part of him, while also giving him a lean yet sturdy physique. Now, he and Ryo must destroy the demons that bring harm to humanity and their loved ones.
As one of the best anime to premiere on Netflix, Devilman Crybaby gives a new spin to the horror genre, much like American Horror Story. Its new style yet colorful animation and awesome soundtrack featuring catchy Japanese rap tunes are only a few of the reasons to turn on Netflix and give the series a try.
Memories
In the sci-fi horror movie Memories, three seemingly unrelated stories come together to reveal the true narrative. This is a similar approach to how all the seasons of American Horror Story are related, but each brings its unique take to the genre.
The first story, Magnetic Rose, takes place in outer space where two space engineers find a mansion, revealing the tragic fate of a renowned opera singer. However, hallucinations start to take over and they must do everything they can to retain their sanity.
Back on earth, in Stink Bomb, a lab technician accidentally takes several pills that enhance his flatulence to a lethal degree, killing everyone around him. Now, he must take refuge in his company’s headquarters all the way in Tokyo. But, with military forces after him will the lab tech be able to hold it in?
Lastly, in Cannon Fodder, there’s a boy who wants to become an artillery officer in a fortress city. The young boy spends his days dreaming of firing a cannon for the sake of the fatherland.
Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek
An innocent kids’ game ventures into the horror territory in the short anime film Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek. The movie centers around a group of kids playing the Japanese version of hide and seek, Otokoyo. But, instead of playing in a safe location near adults, they venture into the abandoned ruins of a Kowloon-like city. Rumor has it that a demon appears and takes away children who dare to play the game. To make matters more spooky, some kids have indeed disappeared.
Even though Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek doesn’t have the bloodfest of Hotel or the intricate storyline of Asylum, the movie does deliver a bucket load of suspense and creativity that American Horror Story is known for. From its animation that comes to life thanks to cell shading to its tense mood and easy-to-follow plot, the movie builds up the suspense factor without not much storytelling.
At less than half an hour long, Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek makes for a great horror snack between AHS episodes.
